1,000 signatures reached
To: Jennifer Newstead, David Wehner, Chris Cox, Mark Zuckerberg, Javier Olivan, Sir Nick Clegg, Andrew Bosworth
End AI image recognition and training indefinitely on Instagram and Facebook
Both Instagram and Facebook are large platforms for artists, approximately 64 million art influencers have accounts on just Instagram as of 2023 (TrendHero). Facebook comes in at approximately 42,000 art pages as of June 2023 (Statista)
A large percentage of these users are currently very unhappy with their artwork being used for AI training. Even more, many users (both who own and don't use social media primarily for artwork) are unaware that any image they put up may be used for training AI for things such as facial recognition. For example, if you post an image of you or your child to these platforms, Meta AI has every right to take that image and use it as it sees fit for training. Opting out of this is possible, but made extremely complicated and not accessible on every account. Furthermore, when you opt out, it only applies to posts in the future, not those already existing.
Let's look at some pros and cons for AI usage with images specifically. In this case, the term "artwork" is used extremely loosely:
PROS:
1. It makes creating artwork accessible for everyone.
2. Artwork now takes almost no time to create.
3. Users are now able to fine tune any AI generated image to their liking.
4. Can be used to create elements of designs rather than a whole image.
CONS:
1. Copyright an plagiarism concerns. Though this doesn't fall under copyright laws in America, more cases are coming into play.
2. It takes real people who don't consent to their posted image being used to train AI.
3. Unethical, it can be used to steal and gives no credit to the poster of the image it used.
4. It has a negative impact on those employed through creating artwork.
The best action that can be taken is to simply end Meta AI's training through artwork from people who are likely unaware of what is happening. Instead of opting out, there should be an opt in option for those who do consent to the use of their images being used for this purpose. This is preying upon people who are ignorant to the fact that this is happening. It is taking advantage of those who just don't know any better. This has the potential to be stopped very easily and should have never happened in the first place.
A large percentage of these users are currently very unhappy with their artwork being used for AI training. Even more, many users (both who own and don't use social media primarily for artwork) are unaware that any image they put up may be used for training AI for things such as facial recognition. For example, if you post an image of you or your child to these platforms, Meta AI has every right to take that image and use it as it sees fit for training. Opting out of this is possible, but made extremely complicated and not accessible on every account. Furthermore, when you opt out, it only applies to posts in the future, not those already existing.
Let's look at some pros and cons for AI usage with images specifically. In this case, the term "artwork" is used extremely loosely:
PROS:
1. It makes creating artwork accessible for everyone.
2. Artwork now takes almost no time to create.
3. Users are now able to fine tune any AI generated image to their liking.
4. Can be used to create elements of designs rather than a whole image.
CONS:
1. Copyright an plagiarism concerns. Though this doesn't fall under copyright laws in America, more cases are coming into play.
2. It takes real people who don't consent to their posted image being used to train AI.
3. Unethical, it can be used to steal and gives no credit to the poster of the image it used.
4. It has a negative impact on those employed through creating artwork.
The best action that can be taken is to simply end Meta AI's training through artwork from people who are likely unaware of what is happening. Instead of opting out, there should be an opt in option for those who do consent to the use of their images being used for this purpose. This is preying upon people who are ignorant to the fact that this is happening. It is taking advantage of those who just don't know any better. This has the potential to be stopped very easily and should have never happened in the first place.
Why is this important?
Anyone who is an artist should take this into consideration. Do you want your artwork used with no credit? Do you want to have a say in what your artwork can and can't be used for? Do you want your job at risk? Do you think this is moral and/or ethic?
If you aren't an artist, you also need to think about what's happening here. Do you want images of your children used for facial recognition? What about yourself? Are you okay with your pets being used to train AI? What about the video you posted to spread awareness on dementia, which includes your elderly mother in it?
This is not okay, as previously stated it's preying upon those who don't know this is happening. I have multiple Instagram accounts and one for Facebook. I've only seen anything about this on my art account for Instagram, nothing on either of my personals. I've seen more about this happening on other forms of social media rather than Instagram or Facebook. This is common.
If you aren't an artist, you also need to think about what's happening here. Do you want images of your children used for facial recognition? What about yourself? Are you okay with your pets being used to train AI? What about the video you posted to spread awareness on dementia, which includes your elderly mother in it?
This is not okay, as previously stated it's preying upon those who don't know this is happening. I have multiple Instagram accounts and one for Facebook. I've only seen anything about this on my art account for Instagram, nothing on either of my personals. I've seen more about this happening on other forms of social media rather than Instagram or Facebook. This is common.